Even Kevin Smith screwed up his shot at the franchise when he bowed to execs and ended up putting down a horrible script.

Smith was saddled with nine billion retarded restrictions, like " can't fly". He had to try to work within that box to keep the gig and he did his best. He could have just walked but he really wanted to give the script a shot. I put that more on the producer being an idiot. If Smith was to write the script without restriction, I guarantee it would be 100% different than the one he penned. He is an uber-nerd after all.